Optical source and apparatus for remote sensing

Abstract

An optical amplifier is configured to amplify an injected seed optical pulse. The optical amplifier may include two or more gain sections coupled to form a continuous solid waveguide along a primary optical path. Each gain section may include: (i) an optical isolator forming an input to that gain section; (ii) a doped optical fiber having a first end coupled to the optical isolator and having a second end; (iii) a plurality of pump laser diodes; (iv) a controller providing drive signals to each of the plurality, the controller being configured to provide at least pulsed drive signals; and (v) an optical coupler having a first input port coupled to the second end, and a second input port coupled to the plurality and an output port.

1. A real-time space based planetary mapping measurement system for remote sensing and mapping comprising:
 one or more processors; an illumination source controller and modulator coupled to one or more processors; a cavity free real-time electronically adjustable wavelength pulsed illumination source with multipower multiple laser lines coupled to the illumination source controller and modulator; a receiver having a capability for detecting illumination transmitted by the illumination source and providing signals based on detected illumination; the pulsed illumination source comprising: a seed coupled to the illumination source controller and modulator and accepting control and modulation signals therefrom; and an optical amplifier having an input coupled to the seed and having an output, the optical amplifier comprising two or more gain sections coupled to form a continuous solid waveguide along a primary optical path, each gain section comprising: an optical isolator forming an input to that gain section; a doped optical fiber having a first end coupled to the optical isolator and having a second end; a plurality of pump laser diodes; a controller providing drive signals to each of the plurality of pump laser diodes, the controller being configured to provide at least pulsed drive signals; and an optical coupler having a first input port coupled to the second end, a second input port coupled to said plurality of pump laser diodes and an output port. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the optical amplifier comprises two or more gain sections forming a substantially physically continuous solid waveguide along a primary optical path. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the seed comprises a laser diode. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the seed comprises a laser diode having an output signal whose frequency is tunable in wavelength responsive to electrical signals. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the seed comprises a laser diode having an output signal within a band of wavelengths spanning about 970 nanometers to about 1080 nanometers. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the two or more gain sections are coupled via optical isolators. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially physically continuous solid waveguide includes optical fibers joined via fusion splicing. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 2 , wherein each of the two or more gain sections are backwards-wave pumped via a plurality of laser diode modules, each of the plurality comprising: an optical fiber; and a laser diode secured to the optical fiber, wherein the laser diode and diode-to-fiber junction are contained within a hermetically sealed, mechanically robust enclosure. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1  wherein an image reconstruction engine is coupled to the receiver and to one or more processors. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9  wherein the image reconstruction engine process signals from the receiver and employ characteristics of the signals to create a mapping corresponding to delay and reflectivity assessments based on the signals.